CRYSTAL Palace have been Liverpool’s bogey team in recent years and could once again prove a thorn in the Reds’ side when they visit Anfield today.
The Eagles have already beaten Liverpool three times this season – in the Community Shield, the fourth round of the Carabao Cup and in a league match last September.
Their most recent meeting was that Carabao Cup tie at Anfield, where Palace ran out convincing 3-0 winners.
Liverpool’s last home victory over Palace came in September 2021. Since then, the Eagles have drawn once and won twice at Anfield in all competitions.
Oliver Glasner, whose side sit 13th in the league, will arrive with confidence, knowing he has had the measure of Arne Slot this season.
The Palace manager has a strong squad available, with only Eddie Nketiah and Evann Guessand sidelined.
Dean Henderson is expected to start in goal behind a back three of Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix and Jaydee Canvot, with Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz operating as wing‑backs. In midfield, Adam Wharton returns to partner Jefferson Lerma.
In attack, Glasner is likely to field Jorgen Strand Larsen, Yeremy Pino and Brennan Johnson. Jean‑Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr are also pushing for starts – both having caused Liverpool problems before.
Sarr, in particular, has seven goals and two assists against the Reds, including his time at Watford.
Liverpool, meanwhile, continue to grapple with significant injuries. The latest setback came in the 2-1 win over Everton last weekend, when Giorgi Mamardashvili – himself deputising for first‑choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker – was stretchered off in the second half and replaced by Freddie Woodman.
Woodman is now expected to make his full Premier League debut against Palace.
Other injury concerns include Joe Gomez, Hugo Ekitike, Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni.
Slot is likely to field a back four of Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Milos Kerkez and Curtis Jones.
The midfield should comprise Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz, while the front three are expected to be Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak.
There is considerable expectation on Isak, who recently returned from an ankle injury, to contribute goals and assists following Ekitike’s season‑ending layoff. Fair or not, Liverpool
need him to deliver with only five league matches remaining
in their push for a Champions League place.
Salah has also rediscovered some form, scoring three goals in his last four appearances, and could play a decisive role this weekend. — By IVAN LOH
